This upcoming season will be Tanner Morgan’s fifth as the University of Minnesota’s starting quarterback.
Think that’s a lot?
Yup, contrast Morgan with the other team in town that football fans follow with passion. In the 61-year history of the Vikings only four quarterbacks have been regular starters for five seasons or more. The list includes Kirk Cousins who is preparing for his fifth season in Minneapolis, plus Fran Tarkenton, Tommy Kramer and Daunte Culpepper. BTW Morgan, 23, is the same age as second-year Vikings backup quarterback Kellen Mond.
Morgan, who took over as Minnesota’s starter in October of 2018, is the only five season starting quarterback dating back to the end of World War II, per the Gophers’ media guide. He could be the only Minnesota QB to ever have been a starter for five seasons since the beginning of Gopher football in 1882.
Morgan’s unique story is happening because of an extra season of eligibility granted to football players by the NCAA in response to the loss of practice and game opportunities caused by COVID in 2020. Morgan is part of the “encore four” that includes three other six-year players who began careers at Minnesota as freshmen in 2017. Wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell, running back Mohamed Ibrahim, and center John Michael Schmitz are the other members of the group.
All four redshirted in 2017 and then first played in 2018, with Morgan having six starts in the team’s final games, and Ibrahim and Autman-Bell starting in nine games each. Schmitz saw action on special teams.
Morgan has quarterbacked the team to 27 wins, the most ever for a Gopher quarterback. Now he and teammates are getting ready for the season opener at home September 1 against New Mexico State.
He is grateful for his time at Minnesota. “You know, I’ve been here a long time. I’ve been very thankful for that. …Sometimes I pinch myself for having the situation that I am (in). Wake up in the morning, praying and thanking God that he has me where he has me. That I am a member of the University of Minnesota football team. …So it’s a joy to be here every day.”
Morgan holds school records for passing including those set in 2019, his best year as a Gopher when he threw for 3,253 yards and 30 touchdowns (both single season records). That team had an 11-2 record and was ranked No. 10 in the final AP poll.
The Gophers, who had a 7-2 Big Ten record that year, are trying to duplicate similar success in 2022 and are considered a dark horse to win the West Division. “I know he knows the expectation he has upon himself,” said head coach P.J. Fleck. “Nobody is going to put more pressure on himself than Tanner and this football team. He knows what he has to be able to accomplish. … I think he’s better than he’s ever been—to his performance, to his attitude, to his leadership. It’s proactive leadership, not reactive leadership. And I think that’s due to (wife) Sarah probably (and) getting married.”
In pursuit of chasing perfection as a passer, Morgan knows he’s never going to be perfect. “It all comes down to fundamentals and how you use your body to make throws,” he said.
With all his experience, Morgan certainly has the confidence of his teammates. “With Tanner, he’s very smart,” said safety Jordan Howden. “He knows when to throw and when not to throw. …With six years, you can see the growth from him. “
Worth Noting
Want to scout New Mexico State before Jerry Kill’s guys play the Gophers September 1? The Aggies game Saturday night against Nevada from Las Cruces will be televised on ESPN2 starting at 9 p.m. Minneapolis time.
Kill, approaching his first game as Aggies coach, has one Minnesotan on his roster, reserve freshman defensive back Rashad McKinley from St. Paul and Hill-Murray High School.
Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah likes to talk about “evidence-based” decisions. His previous front office experience with the 49ers and Browns came into play yesterday when Minnesota, scrambling to upgrade the talent and depth of its quarterback roster, acquired veteran Nick Mullens from the Raiders. The fifth-year pro has been with both the 49ers and the Browns.
Viking defensive lineman T.Y. McGill Jr., through two preseason games, leads the NFL in sacks at 3.5. The defense is holding opponents to 4.47 yards per play, ranking third best in the NFC during preseason.
A week from today NFL teams must reduce rosters down to 53 players.
A Sports Headliners reader and long-time Twins fan emailed that his friends are challenged to give away tickets to clients because people don’t want to go downtown. “And I have yet to talk to anyone that is happy with the way Rocco (Balldeli) manages his pitching staff. Of course we are all happy to be in the hunt for a playoff spot but many feel we could be seven games ahead if we had managed our starting pitchers and relief pitchers differently.”
The CORES luncheon group welcomes Ken Mauer Jr. as its guest speaker September 8 at the Bloomington Event Center. With 37 years of experience, the St. Paul native is the NBA’s longest tenured referee having worked games in five different decades including NBA Finals. He didn’t officiate last season due to a disagreement with the league regarding COVID directives. Reservations must be made by September 5. For more information contact Jim Dotseth: dotsethj@comcast.net. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.
Birthday wishes: St. Paul native and baseball Hall of Famer Paul Molitor turned 66 yesterday and former Gophers women’s Final Four basketball coach Pam Borton had her 57th birthday.